Chess: Flexibility the key to opening

IN TODAY'S game from the recent Interzonal, everything in the opening is determined by considerations of flexibility, writes William Hartston. In a typical King's Indian, Black's knight lurks on a6, waiting to see how the central position is resolved. Whether White plays dxe5, or blocks with d5, or Black captures exd4, the knight will have a good square on c5. Maintaining the tension with 8. Be3, White invites a time-wasting dance between the bishop and Black's knight. When White's Q-side pawn advance stifles the knight on a6, it is re-routed to head for d4. Meanwhile, White's bishop changes direction, and his knight, with nothing to do on c3, wanders off towards d6.

The critical moment comes with 22 . . . b6. Since Black has an automatic K-side attacking plan by advancing g- and h- pawns, White must ensure that the centre of gravity of play remains on the other wing so plays an interesting pawn sacrifice to open lines. 31. Qxd7] is a fine queen sacrifice. The real point comes with 34. Nxe5] Instead 34. Rcc7? Bxe2 35. Rxg7+ Qxg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. gxf3 Rb8 leaves White struggling to save the ending. As play went, Black was unable to defend the mate threat of Rxg7+ and Nxg6.